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Climate Change: What's Your Impact?

Inevitably, in going about our daily lives — commuting, sheltering our families, eating — each of us contributes to the greenhouse gas emissions that are causing climate change. Yet, there are many things each of us — as individuals — can do to reduce emissions. The choices we make in our homes, our travel, the food we eat, and what we buy and throw away can help ensure a stable climate for future generations.

Use The Nature Conservancy's online carbon footprint calculator to measure your — or your household's — climate impact. The calculator will estimate how many tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases your choices create each year. more info

Throughout the calculator, scroll over the 'more info' links like the one above for help.

To get started, please tell us the number of people in your household and then choose whether you want an estimate for yourself or your household.

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is the primary greenhouse gas in our atmosphere. This means that the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere directly influences how much of the sun's heat stays in the atmosphere, which is a key factor in climate change. One ton of carbon dioxide is released when you travel 5,000 miles in an airplane, drive 2,500 miles in a medium-sized car, or cut down and burn a tree that was about one foot in diameter and 40 feet tall. There are other greenhouse gases as well, such as methane and nitrous oxide. This calculator includes these gases in your results and reports them in a standardized measure called "tons of CO₂ equivalent."

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Please select the number of people in your household.

There are people in my household.

Would you like to reset your answers and continue? If not, click "Cancel" to continue to with no changes.

Tons of CO₂ eq/year

Home Energy Use (calculating for me onlymy entire household)

IWe live in a(n) with bedrooms. more info

"Attached" single family homes includes townhouses, duplexes, and some condos. Condos in large multi-residence buildings should be treated as apartments.

The number of bedrooms allows us to estimate the size of the dwelling.

Please select your household type, number of bedrooms, and state.

IWe live in . more info

Some states generate cleaner electricity than others, which affects your home energy impact.

Your Estimated ImpactYour Estimated Household Impact (based on U.S. state averages)

What Have You Done to Change Your Impact?

IWe've taken steps to heat and cool myour home efficiently. more info
Wherever possible In some areas Very little

Some possible steps include:
� Install a programmable thermostat
� Set the temperature lower for heating and higher for cooling
� Reduce drafts from windows and doors
� Properly insulate your attic and walls
� Use ceiling fans and floor fans for cooling
� Shade windows using drapes or overhangs

IWe have installed efficient lighting. more info
Everywhere possible In some lights Not yet

Fluorescent lighting is far more efficient than halogen and standard incandescent lights. Compact fluorescents (CFLs) are a simple replacement of standard incandescents and they consume only 1/3 the energy and last about 10 times as long as standard incandescent lights.

For this question you should indicate how much of your lighting is fluorescent.

IWe use ENERGY STAR appliances and electronics and unplug
equipment not in use. more info
Always Sometimes Rarely

ENERGY STAR equipment and appliances are labeled with this blue logo.
� If you know that you buy ENERGY STAR labeled products, you should select "Sometimes" or "Always".
� If you are not familiar with this program or don't consider energy efficiency when buying equipment and household appliances you should select "Rarely".
� If you rarely purchase new appliances or equipment but you unplug electronic devices not in use, you should select "Sometimes", since you are still saving energy.

IWe have taken steps to reduce energy used for hot water. more info
As much as possible Somewhat Not yet

Some possible steps include:
� Install low-flow shower heads
� Turn the hot water temperature down to 120�F
� Properly insulate your hot water tank

Total Greenhouse Gas Emissions:

Home Energy Use Total:

How is this calculated?

Tons of CO₂ eq/year

Driving & Flying (calculating for me onlymy entire household)

What Have You Done to Change Your Impact?

IWe drive the following vehicle(s):
roughly miles per more info
add vehicle

If your vehicle is not represented in our list of common vehicle types, please use the most appropriate type based on miles per gallon (mpg) fuel consumption. "Hybrid" refers to vehicles like the Toyota Prius that use a hybrid gas / electric power system. The type of vehicle you own and especially the number of miles you drive have a significant impact on your overall greenhouse gas emissions.

If you have multiple vehicles, click on the 'add vehicle' link.

roughly miles per
add vehicle

roughly miles per

IWe generally check the air filter... more info
Monthly Occasionally Rarely

Air filters are often checked as part of a standard oil change service. The more miles you drive, the more impact checking your air filter has.

IWe check the tire pressure... more info
Monthly Occasionally Rarely

Since tires slowly lose air over time and with changes in temperature, it is best to check them or have them checked periodically. Frequent drivers will see more impact from this behavior than those with less miles driven.

In the past year I have flown The total number of flights we have flown in the last year, counting each flight taken by each member in my household, is:
long flights and short flights. more info

All flights are round trips per person and should include both business and personal travel. If two people fly on the same trip, it is considered two trips.

Consider a short flight to be less than 1.5 hours (300 miles) one way.

Total Greenhouse Gas Emissions:

Driving & Flying Total:

How is this calculated?

Tons of CO₂ eq/year

Food & Diet (calculating for me onlymy entire household)

Your Estimated Impact (based on U.S. averages)

What Have You Done to Change Your Impact?

IWe include meat in myour diet... more info
At most meals Most days, but not every meal
Rarely Never

� If you eat red meat or fish most every day, select "At most meals".
� If you eat a variety of meats, but don't avoid red meats or fish, select "Most days"
� If the meat you eat is primarily poultry or you don't eat much meat at all, select "Rarely".
� If you have a vegetarian diet that includes eggs and milk, select "Rarely".
� Strict vegetarians and vegans should select "Never".
� Consider both home meals and dining out.
� Eating meat raised locally, grass-fed or that you hunt generates fewer emissions.

IWe eat organic food... more info
Most of the time Sometimes Never or rarely

Not all food can be obtained organically and that which can may not be available all of the time.
� If you seek out organic food as your first choice for all of your food choices, select "Most of the time".
� If you buy organic on some products, but pass on others, select "Sometimes".
� If you do not consider organic food choices or frequently pass on purchasing organic, select "Never or rarely".
Consider both grocery shopping and dining out.

Total Greenhouse Gas Emissions:

Food & Diet Total:

How is this calculated?

Tons of CO₂ eq/year

Recycling & Waste (calculating for me onlymy entire household)

Your Estimated Impact (based on U.S. averages)

What Have You Done to Change Your Impact?

IWe recycle... more info
All materials locally recyclable Some of our waste
Not much

� If you typically recycle everything you know is recyclable, select "All materials".
� If you don't make it a habit to recycle at least some of your waste, select "Not much".
� Anything in between can be considered "Some of our waste".
� Your county or city solid waste management division may have a list of locally recyclable materials based on the type of material and the numeric code for plastic containers.

IWe compost food scraps and yard trimmings... more info
Whenever possible Sometimes Rarely

� If you divert most all of your food waste by composting it, you avoid a significant portion of your household's solid waste and you should select "Whenever possible".
� If you have a compost pile or bin and use it from time to time, select "Sometimes".
� If you do not compost, select "Rarely".

Total Greenhouse Gas Emissions:

Buying & Waste Total:

How is this calculated?

You haven't filled out some of the sections, so your results may not reflect your actual impact.

How is this calculated?

Your Results (calculated for me onlymy entire household)

Emissions Comparison Tons of CO₂ eq/year

Your Estimated Emissions (# person household)

United States Average per Person(# person household)

World Average per Person(# person household)

Your estimated greenhouse gas emissions are tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) equivalent per year, which is the same as the U.S. national average.

To reduce your climate impact, there are many simple things you can change in your everyday behavior that will make a big difference in the fight to slow climate change:

� Offset Your Carbon Footprint
� Learn More about Nature Conservancy
Offsets
� Read our Climate-Saving Tips
� More Actions

Offsetting your carbon footprint with The Nature Conservancy will sequester carbon over the next 70 years. Learn more about the Conservancy's science-based carbon offsets program.

U.S. Average Behavior Breakdown

Your Behavior Breakdown